Few dates in the calendar offer watchmakers such opportunity to flex their design muscles than the Lunar New Year, and as an observer, it’s always a fun one to see how each brand interprets the holiday and infuses it with its own aesthetic codes.
In 2026, it’s the Horse that will be galloping into seasonal wishlists – a year that’s said to symbolize energy, progress, speed and independence, though can also bring restlessness. Now doesn’t that sound in perfect keeping with the horological industry zeitgeist?
Horse years are also all about bold decisions and impatience, and collectors will rarely pass up an opportunity to add a limited-edition, talking-point piece to their curation (in case anyone needs a cosmic scapegoat for another purchase).
Though it might actually be bad fortune to give people clocks for Lunar New Year (often seen as a symbol of time running out), we’re hedging our bets and celebrating with all the extra luck we can get with eight new Year of the Horse watches.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Year of the Horse
Red and gold are no strangers to Lunar New Year releases, but TAG Heuer takes things up a celebratory notch with a delicate champagne backdrop and 18K rose gold-plated accents across a one-of-250 Carrera Chronograph. The Chinese character for ‘horse’ 马 at 9 o’clock adds an understated Eastern touch to the very Swiss mechanics – the Caliber TH20-07 movement is visible through the sapphire case back (complete with an etched fire horse), delivering an 80-hour power reserve.
$4,150, tagheuer.com
Oris Year of the Horse Limited Edition
Oris uses the holiday’s symbolism to new lengths (furlongs?) with a one-of-88 equestrian Artelier, powered by the caliber 113 which first appeared in 2017. Here, two horses are featured as indicators of its impressive 10-day power reserve: a galloping horse indicates a fully wound movement, while the resting horse signals when it’s time for a horological sugar cube. Coming in at a statement-making 50.5mm lug-to-lug length, the steel model also makes room for a business calendar that displays the day, date, and month of the year, as well as the week via a scale around its perimeter.
$8,000, oris.ch
Bulova ‘Year of the Horse’ Super Seville
Bulova is one of the seemingly few that has never actually created a watch inspired by the Chinese Zodiac, but it’s jumping in the saddle with its Super Saville. The gold-tone stainless steel watch features a coin-edge bezel, matching bracelet, and a layered red-and-gold dial detailed with a rearing horse motif surrounded by floral details. Limited to 888 numbered pieces (8 being a lucky number in Chinese culture), it celebrates prosperity, vitality and fortune. Sold.
$895, bulova.com
Swatch Riding The Clouds
No one does arty novelty quite like Swatch, and its Year of the Horse offering is now different. Riding The Clouds celebrates the occasion with Shanghai and London-based artist Yu Wenjie. The bold red watch features two mid-flight horses, one black, one white, symbolizing yin and yang. Flaming manes, wings, clouds, and scattered flames convey passion, resilience, luck and prosperity, with the design carried onto the strap to create a canvas feel around the wrist.
$105, swatch.com
Dior Grand Soir Year of the Horse
Every year, Dior’s Grand Soir collection plays host to a unique savoir-faire creation inspired by the lunar calendar, and 2026’s equestrian mascot offers unparalleled elegance. Frolicking against the backdrop of an extraordinarily intricate foliage backdrop, rose gold horses are surrounded by mother-of-pearl and precious stone flowers. Whimsy at its best.
$41,000
Piaget Altiplano Zodiac Horse Edition
Piaget is never one to follow the crowd, and the maison pulls the reigns away from the usual red and gold hues in favor of a spectrum of rich blue hues, flowing across the dial like a well-conditioned mane. Created with master enameller Anita Porchet, gold threads separate the strands, while parades of diamonds made this one-of-18 white gold creation truly precious. It’s not just a Concours d’Élégance Équestre though. The timepiece is powered by the ultra-thin 2.5mm hand-wound 830P caliber – a hallmark of Piaget’s expertise since the 1950s that offers a 60-hour power reserve.
POA, piaget.com
Harry Winston Chinese New Year Automatic
Harry Winston is pre-empting some existing prosperity judging by the number of carats on its Chinese New Year exclusive (2.53 to be exact). Arriving as part of the maison’s Moments collection, the 18K rose gold piece features a fiery red lacquer dial with an ethereal galloping horse, surrounded by two halos of 151 brilliant-cut diamonds, as well as an emerald-cut diamond (apparently Mr Winston’s favorite cut) and eight marquise-cut diamonds that replace the hour markers.
POA, harrywinston.com
Longines Master Collection Year of the Horse Edition
Saying ‘neigh’ to the 8-based numberings, Longines introduces a 2,026-piece special edition that joins the Mater Collection and celebrates not just the New Year, but its long-standing relationship with the equestrian world. The 42mm stainless steel model features a comparatively restrained gradient dial with gilt hands, applied markers, and a moonphase at 6 o’clock. But its the reverse that really brings the cultural storytelling. Powered by the L899.5 automatic movement, an engraved rotor is inspired by Peon Xu’s Galloping Horse painting which appears to move as it spins, complemented by Qingping Xu calligraphy.
$3,400, longines.com
